Device for acetylene generators



July 23, 1940. H. HOLLER El AL DEVICE FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS Filed Nov. 27, 1936 Hermann Holler 0625-0 Mues INVENTORS TH E I R 'ATTORN 9S Patented July 23, 1940 DEVICE FQR AUEENE GENEEATflES Hermann Holler, Frankfort-on-the-Main, and Gtto Mues, Frankiort-on-the-Main-Schwam heim, Germany, assignors to H. G. Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschait, Fraort-on-the- Main, Germany Application November at, 1936, Serial No. men

3 @laims.

The present invention relates to a device for indicating the 'quantity of calcium carbide in acetylene generators.

When producing acetylene from calcium carbide and water in acetylene generators it is important if gasification is to proceed smoothly to know at all times how much calcium carbide there is in the gasifioation chamber. This knowledge is absolutely necessary if revolving screens are used as gasification chambers and in these cases it is especially diflicult, owing to the uninterrupted rotatory motion of the drum, to determine how much calcium carbide is present in the gasificationchamber.

According to the present invention this knowledge is made available by mounting on the generator a device which comprises one or more members which rest on the calcium carbide contained in the revolving screen and move as the level of the carbide changes. The actual position of the members is made visible from the outside by a pointer arranged to move with the members. The device is suitably made in such a manner that it is at the same time used for controlling, for instance electrically or mechanically, the introduction of the calcium carbide into the drum. For this purpose there may be provided contacts or similar means located in the path of the pointer. When these means come in contact with the pointer the motor driving the charging device can be put in motion for a predetermined time and the calcium carbide supply in the revolving screen bethus replenished.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a generator provided with a revolving screen,

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line i-I of 4% Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating how the replenishment or" the screen may be effected.

Ihe calcium carbide leaves the storing hopper i, passes via the charging drum 2 and the tube 1 into the revolving screen 53 where the gasification takes place in known manner by the introduction of water; for this purpose the drum. carried on the arbor 5, is rotated.

Into the interior of the revolving screen 6 there projects a shaft t on which there are mounted a number of fingers l which rest loosely on the calcium carbide supply 8 and move as the quantity of calcium carbide in the screen changes. At the end of the shaft i3 is mounted a pointer by means of which the quantity of Germany November 29, 1935 0K. it-33) calcium carbide still present in the drum can be read on a scale to on the outside of the drum 4. In order that the drum 4 be refilled automatically as soon as the content thereof has fallen to a certain low limit, the indicatingdevice is arranged 6 in the control circuit of a motor M which drives the charging drum 2. For this purpose a contact i2 is provided on the pointer 9. When the pointer is in the position which corresponds to the smallest permissible quantity of calcium carbide in the drum, the contact i2 makes contact with a stationary contact l3 and thus closes the motor starting circuit. The motor then starts and causes the charging drum 2 to rotate until the members i are raised by the calcium carbide w newly supplied to the revolving screen and the contacts i2 and it are opened and the motor ii is stopped.

By this arrangement the supply t in the revolving screen i is always automatically kept at at the height required for an uninterrupted working of the plant.

We claim:

1. In a device for indicating the quantity of calcium carbide contained in a revolving screen of an acetylene generator, the improvement which comprises a rotatably mounted shaft extending into the interior of said revolving screen, the portion of said shaft within the revolving screen being provided with at least one arm ex- 8T9 tended substantially to the periphery of said screen so that it loosely rests on the calcium carbide contained within said revolving screen and means connected to the portion of said shaft without said revolving screen for indicating the position of said arm within the revolving screen.

2. In a device -for indicating the quantity of calcium carbide contained in a revolving screen of an acetylene generator, the improvement which comprises a rotatably mounted shaft extending into and terminating within said revoiving screen, the portion of said shaft within the revolving screen being provided with at least one arm extended substantially to the periphery of said screen so that it loosely rests on the calcium carbide contained within said revolving screen, a journal for said shaft permitting rotation of said shaft in either direction and means connected to the portion of said shaft without said revolving screen for indicating the position of said arm within the revolving screen.

3. In a device for indicating the quantity of calcium carbide contained in a revolving screen of an acetylene generator the improvement which comprises a rotatably mounted shaft ex- 55 amass? N counter to the direction of rotation of the revoiving screen, said rotation being opposed by the action of the calcium carbide on said arm, whereby the amount of carbide regulates the position of said arm and means connected to the portion of said shaft without said revolving screen for indicating the position of said arm within the revolving screen.

' HOLLER. OTTO 

